LMU Tops Women's Hoops by Five

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -
The Santa Clara University women's basketball team fell to league-leading Loyola Marymount 58-53 tonight in West Coast Conference action at the Leavey Center. Redshirt freshman Tori Markey netted a career-high 18 points to lead the Broncos, but Santa Clara falls to 7-15, 3-6. Kate Murray recorded a game-high 22 points to lead the Lions to a program-best ninth consecutive win, as their record improves to 18-5, 9-1.

Santa Clara opened the night five-of-five from the field and held a 16-11 lead off a Quinn Thomas three with 11:34 left in the half. LMU took the lead on a drive by Murray and scored 11 straight before Markey's 18-footer stopped an eight-minute scoring drought for SCU. A fast-break trey from freshman Ashley Graham on the right wing pulled the Broncos within eight, 31-23 at the half.

The Lions forced 17 Bronco turnovers in the period, but Santa Clara did a better in the second, committing only six. Senior Jennie Rondel came off the bench for 10 points, while Markey added seven rebounds to her all-around performance. Santa Clara out-shot LMU 46 to 35 percent.

Loyola Marymount also saw 10 points and six rebounds from Adrianne Slaughter, who fouled out late in the game. Jasmin Matthews had eight first-half rebounds-six of them on the offensive end-and finished with 10 on the night.

LMU opened second-half action with a 16-4 run, and pulled out a 47-27 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the game. The Broncos halved that deficit with a lay-up by Rondel, to make it 49-39 with seven minutes on the clock. Santa Clara kept the momentum and a Markey three-point play made it 50-44 just two minutes later.

The Broncos made it a five-point game heading into the final minute, but could get no closer. Murray made a lay up and hit all four free throw attempts in the final two minutes to secure her team's victory.

Lion Raelen Self and Bronco Whitney Sutak collided during the second half, with Self chipping a tooth and Sutak leaving the game to receive four stitches in her right temple.

Murray also set the school record for games played at 115, passing current LMU assistant coach Lynn Flanagan, who played in 114 contests during her 1988-91 tenure as a Lion.

Santa Clara will play four of its final five regular-season games at home in the Leavey Center. The Broncos will return to the court for a Valentine's Day contest against Pepperdine. Tip-off is scheduled on Saturday for 7 p.m.